Interesting use for VLF

[usswood]

BNSF Railway Co
4515 Kansas Avenue
Kansas City KS 66106

Callsign: WQNL950
Radio Service: IG-Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional

COMMON CARRIER RAILROAD

Action: ISSUED


Area of Operation
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 FIXED 394644.0N 913328.0W PALMYRA MARION MO
2 FIXED 392446.1N 904832.5W Pleasant Hill PIKE IL
3 FIXED 394135.8N 092222.5W Shelbina SHELBY MO
4 FIXED 040046.2N 091253.5W Camp Point ADAMS IL
5 FIXED 402143.2N 904623.5W Colchester MCDONOUGH IL
6 FIXED 394416.0N 922849.0W MACON MACON MO

Pwr ERP # of # of (A)nalog
Ref Class Freq Out Out Units Pagers (D)igital (X)Unknwn
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 FB 044.58000 100 152 1 0 20K0F1D (D)
2 FB 044.58000 100 168 1 0 20K0F1D (D)
3 FB 044.58000 100 181 1 0 20K0F1D (D)
4 FB 044.58000 100 147 1 0 20K0F1D (D)
5 FB 044.58000 100 151 1 0 20K0F1D (D)
6 FB 044.58000 100 092 1 0 20K0F1D (D)

FCC has been busy reissuing the VLFs...wonder how that sounds a VLF in Digital??

 

[texasemt13]

Isn't VLF, Very Low Frequency, 3 kHz to 30 kHz? Am I missing something? The license info posted is showing 44.58 MHz, which is VHF.

 

[Viper43]

Isn't VLF, Very Low Frequency, 3 kHz to 30 kHz? Am I missing something? The license info posted is showing 44.58 MHz, which is VHF.

I'm still trying to figure out how it relates to Indiana..... nothing posted shows any relation to the state. And just because a RR in one state changes modes doesn't mean it will ever happen here. I guess they will have to go to Mo or Il to see what it sounds like.....
And i don't think VLF in RR terms is the same as VLF in HF terms.....

 

[texasemt13]

. . . I don't think VLF in RR terms is the same as VLF in HF terms. . .

Well, VLF in radio terms is Very Low Frequency, and indicates 3 kHz to 30 kHz, mainly used for shallow underwater communications and geophysical surveying.

Now, if we're not talking radios it could also mean vertical-laminar flow, vector-lift fighter or a vertical linear foot. But, what would any of those have to do with railroads?

As I said before this is VHF if the frequency is 44.58, which I'll admit, is an unusual allocation for a railroad these days.

 

[usswood]

ok..maybe I should have said Public Service Low Band..hows that??

 

[Viper43]

texasemt .... I know what it means in terms of radio frequency.... read what I wrote...

 

[AK9R]

...an unusual allocation for a railroad these days.

Since the emission type is F1D, they must be planning to use the frequencies for something digital. It may be digitized voice or it could be data or it could be remote control. Since railroads these days do an awful lot of track switch aligning and line-side signalling using remote control, it wouldn't surprise me if these channels are going to be used for that purpose and not voice.

 

[burner50]

Since the emission type is F1D, they must be planning to use the frequencies for something digital. It may be digitized voice or it could be data or it could be remote control. Since railroads these days do an awful lot of track switch aligning and line-side signalling using remote control, it wouldn't surprise me if these channels are going to be used for that purpose and not voice.

For what its worth, I believe that there is a law or a rule from the AAR that states that all voice traffic related to operating trains must be done on one of the AAR channels.

 

[timkilbride]

BNSF has been doing Low-Band stuff for a few years now. Their engines even have a Low-Band "blade" antenna. I think its tied in with GPS on the engines and MofW equipment for some sort of PTC.

Tim K.

 

[nd5y]

MeteorComm :: Wireless Data Solutions :: Railroad

 

[K4DHR]

For what its worth, I believe that there is a law or a rule from the AAR that states that all voice traffic related to operating trains must be done on one of the AAR channels.

I believe that requirement only applies for locomotives that may be interchanged, or will operate over the lines of another railroad. Many short line and industrial railroads that never leave their home rails or have no need to communicate directly with the railroad(s) they interchange with many times use normal VHF business band radios.

Reading the link provided, it seems that the low band frequencies are being used for ETMS. I find it curious that they couldn't find a way to integrate it with the existing ATCS/ARES system that they have installed on many lines. Unless of course, this system is used on non-CTC lines exclusively to monitor switch positions and compliance with track warrants.

 

[cifn2]

Not many public safety agencies going to continue to operate in the future on LF, ie, Lower VHF frequencies due to the narrowbanding. Illinois State Police already went to a digital system a few years ago.

 

[nd5y]

Not many public safety agencies going to continue to operate in the future on LF, ie, Lower VHF frequencies due to the narrowbanding. Illinois State Police already went to a digital system a few years ago.

Low band (30-50 MHz) is not subject to narrowbanding.

 

[cifn2]

I knew that now that you mention that, but I guess the lack of technology and equipment for low band and the improved technologies in the upper bands are causing users to move? anyways off topic sorry.